Lansoprazole

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Sep 06, 2022

Warnings

Lansoprazole Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Lansoprazole can cause serious medical problems in certain people. Talk to your doctor about other treatment options for too much acid in the stomach if you are at a high risk of complications. Some of the risks of lansoprazole use include:

KIDNEY DAMAGE: Taking lansoprazole can lead to acute interstitial nephritis (kidney damage). This can occur at any time during treatment with this medicine. Temporarily stop lansoprazole treatment and call your health care professional if you notice blood in the urine, changes in urination, fever, nausea, or confusion.
SEVERE DIARRHEA: Taking lansoprazole can lead to an increased risk of a severe bacterial infection called Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea. Call your doctor without delay if you develop symptoms like stomach pain, watery diarrhea, and fever. To lower your risk of severe diarrhea, take lansoprazole at the lowest dose for the shortest time possible. The risk is higher in patients who are hospitalized.
BONE FRACTURES: Lansoprazole can increase the risk of bone fractures, especially with high doses or long-term treatment. Talk to your health care professional about bone health while on this medicine. You may need to take calcium and vitamin D supplements while on lansoprazole.
SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS: Lansoprazole can lead to new or worsening lupus symptoms such as joint pain and rash. These symptoms generally improve within a few weeks of stopping lansoprazole.
LOW VITAMIN B12 AND MAGNESIUM LEVELS: In a small number of people, lansoprazole can lead to low levels of magnesium or vitamin B12. This usually occurs after taking lansoprazole for a year or more but can happen after just 3 months of use. Call your health care professional if you notice signs and symptoms of low magnesium, such as irregular heart rate, tremors (shaking), and muscle cramps. Signs and symptoms of low vitamin B12 include fatigue, weakness, pins and needles sensations, problems with balance and coordination, dizziness, and pale skin. Your healthcare provider may order laboratory tests and recommend taking a vitamin or mineral supplement while on lansoprazole.
FUNDIC GLAND POLYPS: Rarely, lansoprazole can lead to the formation of fundic gland polyps (small growths in the stomach lining). These growths usually do not cause any symptoms but can become cancerous. The risk is higher if you take lansoprazole for a long time. You should therefore use lansoprazole for the shortest possible time to treat your condition.
HEART VALVE THICKENING: The use of lansoprazole in children younger than 1-year-old is generally not recommended because it can cause thickening of the heart valves. Talk to your child's healthcare provider for other options in proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) if your child is younger than 1 year old.
RISK IN PEOPLE WITH PHENYLKETONURIA: The orally disintegrating tablets of lansoprazole contain phenylalanine. This ingredient can cause serious health problems in people who have a condition called phenylketonuria (PKU). The regular delayed-release capsules don't contain phenylalanine.

If you are at high risk of complications from lansoprazole use, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other treatment options for excess stomach acid.

Precautions Before Starting Lansoprazole

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to lansoprazole, any of the active or inactive ingredients in lansoprazole delayed-release capsules or orally disintegrating tablets, or any other drugs. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor a complete medical history. Lansoprazole may not be right for people with certain health conditions such as low electrolyte levels (sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium), low vitamin B12 levels, hypoparathyroidism, osteoporosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or severe hepatic impairment (liver disease).

Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your other medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible drug interactions between lansoprazole and your other drugs.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, or are planning a pregnancy. Also, tell your doctor if you are feeding an infant breast milk.

If you are an older adult (age 70 and above), do not take over-the-counter (non-prescription) lansoprazole for longer than indicated on the package.

If your heartburn symptoms have been present for more than 3 months, before taking non-prescription lansoprazole, tell your doctor if you have lightheadedness, dizziness, sweating, shoulder pain, chest pain, wheezing, shortness of breath, pain that spreads to your neck, shoulders, or arms, unexplained weight loss, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, bloody vomit, difficulty swallowing, or bloody or black stools. These signs and symptoms may indicate a more serious condition that cannot be treated with OTC lansoprazole.

Precautions During Use of Lansoprazole

Keep all your healthcare appointments during treatment with lansoprazole. Your doctor may want to adjust your dose, order certain laboratory tests, and keep an eye out for any adverse reactions.

If you are taking over-the-counter lansoprazole for heartburn relief, do not take it for more than 14 days or more frequently than every 4 months. Contact your health care provider if your heartburn does not get better.

If you take sucralfate (Carafate), take this medicine at least 30 minutes after lansoprazole.

Call your doctor if you become pregnant while on lansoprazole.

Lansoprazole Drug Interactions

Concomitant administration of certain other medicines can affect how lansoprazole works. Possible drug interactions between lansoprazole and other medicines can also increase the risk of severe adverse events. Your doctor may change the dose of your medications or monitor you carefully for possible side effects if there are known interactions between lansoprazole and your other medicines.

The following medications can have interactions with lansoprazole:

Methotrexate (Trexall, Xatmep)
HIV medicines like rilpivirine (Edurant, in Cabenuva, Juluca, Complera, Odefsey), atazanavir (Reyataz, in Evotaz), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), saquinavir (Invirase)
Certain antibiotics
Anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Jantoven)
Cancer medicines like dasatinib (Sprycel), erlotinib (Tarceva), and nilotinib (Tasigna)
Heart medications like digoxin (Lanoxin)
Diuretics or water pills
Iron supplements
Antifungal drugs like ketoconazole, itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura), and voriconazole (Vfend)
Drugs used to treat lupus such as mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept, Myfortic)
Tuberculosis drugs like rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
Immunosuppressive agents like tacrolimus (Prograf, Envarsus, Astagraf)
Asthma medications like theophylline (Theo-24)
St. John’s Wort

The above list may not include all the possible interactions of lansoprazole. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

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